Stepladder



June 3 1924. 1,49,5'8

R. F. SCHULZKE STEPLADDER Filed Jig; 2Q; TQY 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ri ch nd F. E chu'lzke W MJ@ 61m): me

June 3, 1924. 1,496,558

R. F. scHuL-zKE STEPLADDER Y Filed Jan. 20, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3ft/vernici Gamm@ Patented J une 3, 1924.

SFERLAPQER COW/067771,.'

@citizen Qf,theUntd States, redin @L Salt .Lake City, iii `the, conty'f Sali:y Ike 5 mam sectlon, Wheeby the prop ,seto'x ,will

above character, f @gamin USE,

= gaglng the f mam? section,` and novel .means @nudes f1.1@

ladder. Y This brace 20 rests upon'the upper ends of the diagonal brace strips or bars 19, and thus these diagonal brace bars or strips form a means for supporting or bracing the said brace 20.

The upper ends of the standards o`r legs 18 are connected by a transversely extending rod 22, which extends through the slots 16 formed in the stringers 10 and this rod 22 performs the triple vfunction of bracing and connecting the legs or standards 18, forming a guide for the prop section when the same is eing moved to and from its set up position Aand for forming a support for engaging the side pieces 15. The terminalsof this rod 22 may be 'flattened to form feet 23, which can be bent around the legs or standards 18 and securely connected thereto by means of pins, rivets or the like 24.`

The lower terminal of the prop section C is connected with the main section B by spreader or stretcher arms 25 and 26. These spreader arms 25 and 26 may be bound by metallic cuffs 27, which form means for preventing the splitting of said arms. The extreme lower ends of the arms are pivotally connected tothe legs or standards 18 f by means ofV pivot pins 28, which are eX- tended through the cuifs 27. The -upper ends of the stretcher arms 25 and 26 are pivotall connected to the stringere 10 at a point a ove the transverse center of the main section B, by means of pivot ins 29, which also extend through the metal io cuffs l27, carried by the upper ends of the said arms. The spreader or stretcher arms 25 and 26 form an im ortant means for adding stability tothela der as theprop section is .thoroughly braced or connected with the main section'by said arms, and thecreeping or walking ofgthe ladder when weight is placed upon the same is prevented. When the prop section is moved to its extended position, the upper terminals of the legs or standards 18 which extend beyond the cross brace 20 willbe forced into engagement with the wedges 17 and these legs or standards ,will bind into frictional ti hty engagement therewith, which will lock t je prop1 section in its extended operativeposition in relation to the main section B. When the ladder is in its set up position, the same can be conveniently moved around to various positions, without danger of Athe collapsing of the ladder, and when weight is placed upon the main section .B, the same will have a 4tendency to move to its spread position in relation to the rop,` thereby insuring against the collapsing of the ladder when the same is in use. i

-When the ladder is moved toits extreme openset up position, the upper` cross brace ,20 will` be -in engagement'l with the lower edge of the depending 1side brace 4pieces 15, as will also the cross rod 22, and thusthe prop section will form an eective means for supporting weight, which may be placed upon the ladder. Not only do the wedges 17 form means for locking the prop section in its set up position, in relation to the main4 section B, but also form means for precluding lateral movement between the prop section C and the main section B.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved and efiicient step ladder has been provided, in which the ikelihood of the same collapsing' when inuse, is absolutely precluded, and .which embodies means for automatically locking 'the prop section in its set up position inrelati'onY to the main section, when the prop section has been swungoutwardly to its operative. position,'when the ladder is Vin use.

The standards 18 are adapted to lie on o posite sides of the stringere 10, when t e ladder is in its collapsed position, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawins.

Changes in details maybe made wit out departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but, i

I claim: y t 1. A ladder comprising a" main section having side stringere and steps secured be tween said stringere, the stringers being rovided with, longitudinally extendir'igrv S ots above the upper step, a platform upon the upper ends of said stringers and 'havin ends extending beyond the stringers, and side boards secured to the outer side faces of the upper 'end portions of said stringrs engaging the under faces of the` extended ends of l. said platform, a prop havingfside legs aA rodconnectin the upperends of said legs and extendin t rough the slotsin said stringers to slida ly and v"ivotall'f mount the prop, a cross strip carried by t e upper end portions of said legs, said cross stri and said rod beingadapted to en age the lower edgesv of the end boards and race theside boards and platform when the prop is moved to an operative position, downwardly tapered wedges secured to .the outer faces of the upper end portions of said stringere and adapted to engage the legs when the prop is moved to'an operative position and frictionally hold the pro in the operative position, and braces pivota ly connected with the lowerends of the legs and with the stringers intermediate the lengths thereof.

2. A ladder comprising a main section having side Vstringers and steps securedto said stringere the stringere being provided with longitudinally extending slots above the upper steps, a platform upon the upper ends of said stringere, and side boards secured to said stringere and the under face of the platform adjacent the ends thereof; a prop including side legs and a cross strip secured to the upper end portions of said legs, a rod extending between the stringers and havin its ends projecting through the n slots therein and secured about the upper end portions of said legs and serving to slida-bl and pivotally mount the prop, the rod an cross strip being adapted to engage the lower edges of the side boards when the prop is moved upwardly and swung to an operative position, braces for limiting swinging movement of the prop away from the main section, and wedging means for frictionally l0 holding the prop swung outwardly to an operative position.

RICHARD F. SCHULZKE. 

